Does PrivateVPN Work in China? (2026 Update)

PrivateVPN is one of the few VPNs that work in China.

The VPN provider lets Chinese citizens and expats access their favorite websites, streaming platforms, apps, and other restricted resources.

Keep reading to learn how to use PrivateVPN to bypass the Great Firewall and why it’s a good app to keep in your anti-government censorship toolbox.

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How to Use PrivateVPN in China?

The best way to get PrivateVPN in China is to download the app before your arrival. However, if you’re already in China, you can download the app by using airport or hotel wifi, asking friends for the download file, or visiting Hong Kong.

Once you have the PrivateVPN app installed, follow these steps to set it up:

Get a PrivateVPN subscription (grab discounts).
Download the PrivateVPN mobile or desktop app. I’ll use Windows for this guide, but the process is similar across supported devices.
Launch the desktop app to “Log In.”

Click the “Change” option in the server location area to choose your preferred location and server.

Find out more about PrivateVPN’s server lists, including location, states, and types in this article.

Additionally, you can improve your online privacy by leveraging additional features like IPv6 leak protection, DNS leak protection, and Kill switch.

To activate these privacy protection features, I’ll use the same Windows PC as above.

Click “Advanced View” on your PrivateVPN desktop app.

Select “Connection Guard.”
Toggle “IPv6 Leak Protection,” “DNS Leak Protection,” and “Kill Switch” on.

Optional: Toggle on “Application Guard” if you use specific streaming or gaming applications with PrivateVPN.
Connect and enjoy access to all your favorite content in China.

What Makes PrivateVPN Good for China?

PrivateVPN is a budget-friendly and powerful VPN for bypassing the Chinese government’s internet restrictions. It also offers military-grade privacy that hides your online activities from the authorities and ISPs like China Unicom, China Telecom, or China Mobile.

Other features that make PrivateVPN a steal for users in China include:

Stealth Mode

PrivateVPN offers “Stealth VPN,” an obfuscation feature that helps you avoid China’s proxy detection and bypass VPN blocks and DPI firewalls.

Likewise, this obfuscation mode keeps Chinese ISPs from knowing you’re using a VPN. So, not even China Telecom can block the VPN’s internet requests.

Kill Switch & Leak Protection

The kill switch on PrivateVPN blocks access to the internet when VPN protection is interrupted.

This ensures your information won’t leak when your phone switches from data to WiFi (or vice-versa) at The Baker’s Place in Shanghai, HLTCJMall in Beijing, or your favorite public WiFi space. Likewise, if your VPN unexpectedly disconnects.

Zero Log Policy

PrivateVPN operates under Swedish privacy laws, which prevents it from collecting and storing your traffic logs. This means more protection, as there’s nothing to seize by the Chinese government.

Alternative VPNs for Browsing in China

Beating the Chinese government’s internet access restriction requires having a backup plan. Here are alternative VPNs to add to your arsenal:

Surfshark

Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections across devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. So, you can ride the bullet train with 256-bit AES encryption protecting your connection while your friend watches US Netflix at the same time.

The VPN’s “Camouflage Mode” also protects your VPN activities from China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile, making it impossible to see that you’re bypassing China’s censorship.

Another notable feature is the “Kill Switch,” which protects you from data leaks when the VPN’s connection breaks.

Find out how to get the Surfshark 2-year plan or grab these MAJOR discounts.

PureVPN

PureVPN runs 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries, so you always have another location to switch to while you chat on WhatsApp from Shenzhen or check your bank back home from Hangzhou.

Its apps cover 10 devices at once, and the company is based in the British Virgin Islands, outside Chinese jurisdiction. As with every VPN here, install it before you land; my PureVPN China guide walks through the setup workarounds.

Interested? Grab the PureVPN special discount with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN

NordVPN has no servers inside mainland China, but it covers the places you’d normally route through from there: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore all have physical NordVPN servers, which keeps the hop short when you open Gmail or Google Drive from Chengdu.

One subscription protects 10 devices at once, with apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. If you’d rather keep the same address every day, its paid dedicated IP add-on is available in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, among 31 countries. As with the others, install it before you fly in; my NordVPN China guide covers the setup.

If you’re convinced, grab the NordVPN discount to save money.

Bypass the Chinese Government Internet Restriction

Bypass the Chinese government’s internet restrictions and browse freely using PrivateVPN’s features. And don’t forget PrivateVPN’s stealth mode bypasses the Great Firewall undetected by your internet provider.

PrivateVPN also supports unlimited P2P file-sharing to securely send files to friends and family.

Best of all, you can save costs with our PrivateVPN discount offer, complete with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Does PrivateVPN Work in China? (2026)